Automatic control mechanism



A ril 16, 1935. A. H. REIBER AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed April 14, 1955 26 INVENTOR @4 551?? H. FE/fiEQ ATTOR Y o o o o o o o o o o o 0 0 0 o D O 0 O c O O O O O O O O O O Patented Apr. 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Albert H. Reiber, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1933, Serial No. 666,124

8 Claims.

The present invention pertains to controlling systems and more particularly to controlling methods wherein the medium operated upon controls the action of the operating mechanism.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a control device which is readily adjustable to accommodate different conditions of operation.

An important object of the invention is to pro- 10 vide a ready means to interrupt transmission while opportunity is given to theoperator to test a line of composition to determine'its justifiability before allowing the line thus tested to be transmitted.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to typographical composition, it is contemplated to control, by means of perforated tape, typesetting telegraphically by insuring that the typographical matter is prop- :o erly justifiable before it enters the transmitter or tape sensing mechanism at the sending station. Justification, as is commonly known in the typographical art, is the process of making the composed line fill a predetermined length of line or column width to be set. Briefly, in the typographical art, composing machines of the linecasting type are provided with matrices which consist of small brass units carrying indented characters in their edges and which are of different thicknesses due to the fact that the characters vary in width. Thus,'when these matrices are assembled into a line of predetermineddefinite length, the number of matrices necessary to complete the line varies with the particular matrices used. The length of line, therefore, is dependent not upon the number of characters in the line, but rather upon the thicknesses of the characters or matrices making up the line. Consequently, it is necessary, during the prep- --l.) aration of a perforated tape representing lines of composed matter, to totalize the various thicknesses of matrices corresponding to the code perforations made in the tape, so that the operator will be apprised at all times of the length of thus judge the justifiability oi the line.

Cooperating with the character matrices and equally determinative of the justifiability of the line, are the justifying matrices, commonly known 50 as expansiblespacebands or word spacers which comprise a portion analogous to and having the contour of a character matrix and which is positioned in the line of matrices usually between each series of character matrices comprising a word, and this portion has slidably articulated line remaining as each key is operated and can well as the totalization of the character matrices,

and wherein these two functions are performed simultaneously and the net or resultant effect is apparent to the operator at all times who is apprised constantly of the justifiable condition of the line of composition to be set. Such an indicating device may be of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 613,706,-fi1ed May 26, 1932 by H. L. Krum.

In preparing perforated tape for the remote telegraphic control of typesetting machines wherein the lengths of lines vary according to the column widths of the matter to be composed, it is highly desirable, and even necessary, that the lines of composed matter represented by the perforations in the tape be properly justifiable before they are transmitted, and accordingly the device of the present invention has been provided to afford an adjustable means between the tape transmitter andthe keyboard perforator for precluding the transmission of groups of electrical impulses representative of a line of composition not capable of justification. Briefly, this feature is accomplished by an adjustably positionable tape stop lever located between a tape perforator and a tape transmitter, the operative position of which may be adjusted to suit a predetermined minimum efl'ective size of loop of tape between the perforator and the transmitter. The control is effected by the tape becoming taut and acting to raise slightly the tape stop lever to open in turn a pair of contacts in a circuit including the tape stepping magnet of the tape transmitter. j

. A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein,

Fig. 1 is a diagram of setter control wherein the typesetting mechanism is controlled automatically from a perforated tape which may be prepared telegraphically;

a system of remote type- Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus at a transmitting station, showing the application of the device of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of an alternative method of constructing the present device, and

Fig.1; is a cross-sectional view taken on-line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Typesetting by telegraph comprises, fundamentally, a telegraph system and a mechanical type composing apparatus. The latter may be such as is disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 436,531 and 436,532 to O. Mergenthaler, dated September 16, 1890, in which circulating matrices are released from magazine channels by operating escapement latches. Such release is made in the order in which. the characters are to appear inprint, and then assembled in line. The composed line is thereafter transferred to the face of a mold and the mold filled with molten metal, which, when solidified, forms a slug or integral line of type which has received on its edge the impression of the matrices. Thus is produced a slug with type characters thereon. The matrices are thereafter elevated and returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine channels from which they were first released.

The line of type may be composed automatically through the medium of perforated tape prepared telegraphically by the method set forth in'copending application Serial No. 600,606, filed March 23, 1932, by H. L. Krum et al., in which the previously mentioned escapement latches are adapted to be selectively operated. This application discloses a permutation code operated device adapted to a modern type-slug casting machine whereby the type-slugs or lines of type may be produced automatically under the control of perforated tape.

A diagrammatical illustration of such a control system is disclosed in Fig. 1. In this figure,

the keyboard perforator H is of the type shown in aforementioned Krum application, while the transmitter |2is substantially of the construction disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,298,440,.dated March 25, 1919, and comprises a tape sensing means and a rotary distributor for imparting the signal impulses successively to the signal line; the reperforator l3 may be of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,884,743, dated October 25, 1932, and the automatically operated slug casting machine I4 may be the combination as disclosed in the aforementioned Mergenthaler patent and the Krum et al. application.

In the system shown in Fig. 1 the typographical matter is prepared'upon the keyboard device II by perforating a tape l5 which is fed to the transmitter l2 by means of which signals are transmitted over the line wire Hi to the receiving station l1. At the receiving station the signals are received by a reperforator I3 by which a tape I8 is perforated identical with the original perforated tape l5 at the transmitting station.

' Tape I8 is then utilized to control the operation of a permutation code operated device such as disclosed in the aforementioned Krum et a1. application associated with the typesetting or slug casting machine M. By this method the typesetting machine at a remote station may be controlled telegraphically and automatically by a distant transmitting station. However, as previously noted, it is nece in order to insure satisfactory operation of the system that the tape l5 at the transmitting station be properly prepared; that is, that the line of composed matter represented by the series of perforations in the tape be properly justifiable before .the information is transmitted. To achieve the production of perforated tape representing justifiable lines of composition, the keyboard counter and perforator H, such as disclosed in the aforementioned Krum application,

is provided with a counting device which cooperates with a scale mechanism which indicates to the operator at all times the justifiable condition of the line being composed. For example, as, shown in Fig. 4, the indicating mechanism comprises a sectoral or fan-shaped dial 2|, a matrix pointer 22, and a pair of spaceband point ers 23 and 26. The matrix pointer 22 is adapted to move from left to right in response to the operation of the keys 25 to indicate the cumulative widths of characters of which the line is composed. Simultaneously, code combinations of perforations are made in the tape corresponding to the keys depressed.

Each time the space bar 26 is operated, a perforation is produced in the tape. The effect of such a perforation, when reproduced at the distant station, on the composing machine thereat is to insert a spaceband in the line of matrices. The operation of the space bar 26 also causes the spaceband pointers 23 and 2t to be moved differentially, such that the spread of or' space between the spaceband pointers, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, represents the cumulative expansibility of the spacebands. When the matrix pointer 22 moves into the space between the spaceband pointers 23 and 26, as indicated at 21, the operator is apprised of' the fact that the line composed and of which a perforated record has been made on the tape I5 is justifiable, and that the end-of-line or elevator signal may now be perforated in the tape, whereupon the elevator key which is one of the group of keys 25 is depressed.

While the operator is thus preparing the tape to correspond to a justifiable line of composed matter, it is desirable that no portion of the matter thus composed shall have been transmitted, because in case it becomes necessary to make a correction therein or other editing to render the line justifiable, the operator shall still have an opportunity to make this change. Also, in the event that the operator should desire to test a lineof composition to determine its justifiability, it is contemplated that transmission be arrested until this determination is effected. To insure that this alteration and/or. test'can still be made and to prevent a non-justifiable line from being transmitted, the device according to the present invention is constructed accordingly.

As shown in Fig. 2, the present device comprises essentially a tape stop lever 3|, formed at this position lever 3|, due to the curvature of portion 32, will exert a downward force upon the tape l5 and will prevent any lateral or side motion of the tape, thus serving to guide the tape centrally of the tape guide 33. The tape stop lever.3| comprises a bell crank portion 34 pivotally mounted on a stud 35 secured to a mounting plate 36 ainxed to the base of the transmitter 2.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bell crank portion 34' crank portion 34 coacts with a pair of contacts 39 included in the circuit for the tape stepping magnet 40. This circuit, schematically shown in Fig. 2 extends from source of current or battery 4|, over wire 42, through contacts 39 (when closed), over wire 43, thence through contact 44, brush arm 45, and contact 45 of a start-stop transmitting distributor 41, then over wire 48, through. winding of stepping magnet 40 to ground. As is well known in the art, the stepping magnet 40 is operated cyclically, once during each revolution of brush arm and also, the inclusion of contacts 39 in the magnet circuit functions to arrest transmission of signals when these contacts are broken. In another form of transmitter l2 the stepping of the tape is performed mechanically by means of a cam .fixed to the lower'extremity of the distributor shaft and mechanical interconnection between said cam and the tape stepping pawl. In this form of transmitter the contacts 39 control an electromagnet associated with the distributor shaft 59 to govern its cyclic operation, thus for each rotation of shaft 50 the tape will be advanced one step. 7

Contacts 39 are carried insulatably on an orientation or adjusting lever 5| which is pivotallymounted on the mounting plate 36 and is frictionally pressed thereto by a spring washer 52 inserted between the head of pivot 53 and the lever 5|. By this means the lever 5| is frictionally held in any position in which it is placed by the operator. Lever 5| is provided with an extended arm 54 such that it may be readily manipulated. Eccentric screws 55 and 55 are appropriately mounted on the plate 36 to provide adjustable limiting stops for lever 5|, such that the automatic control mechanism of the present invention may be oriented or adjusted between the full line and the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 2.

Assuming that the automatic control mechanism has been set in the full line position shown in Fig. 2, the contacts 39 are closed, permitting the stepping magnet to operate and automatic transmission to proceed uninterruptedly. Should .any tautness in the tape occur, the tape stop arm 3| would be rotated slightly in a clockwise di-; rection (as viewed in Fig. 2) to open the contacts 39 and thus break the circuit. for the stepping magnetand consequently interrupt the transmission. When slack is again provided in the tape, the contacts 39 will again be closed and transmission resumed in the manner which is well known.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the adaptability of 39 are closed and portion 32 of tape stop lever 3| is in contact with tape l5 to define a tape loop of predetermined efiective length, and assuming also that it is desired to test the next line of composition to determine its justifiability, the operator will manually swing the lever 5| in a counterclockwise direction approximately to a position represented by the solid line position in Fig. 2. The tape stop lever 3|, being held upwardly by the tape, will not follow lever 5| and therefore contacts 39, carried by lever 5|, will be swung thereby out of operative engagement with arm 34 of tape stop lever 3| permitting the contacts to open to break the energizing circuit for the stepping magnet 49 to prevent in turn the further feeding of the tape. The operator can now proceed to perforate the line of composition, the justifiability of which is to be tested or determined, and if the line is found to be justifiable; that is, if after the line has been perforated the matrix pointer 22 is located somewhere between the operated spaceband pointers 23 and 24, as at 21, the lever 5| is swung back in a clockwise direction until the contacts 39 are actuated by arm 34 of tape stop lever 3| to close the energizing circuit of the stepping magnet 43. It is manifest from the foregoing that the present invention provides a ready and convenient means to interrupt transmission to give to the operator an opportunity 'to test a line of composition to determine its justifiability before allowing the line thus tested to be transmitted.

The adjustability of the tape stoparm lends itself advantageously to the preparation of perforated tape for news stories and similar composition. In such instances the tape stop mechanism is adjusted substantially to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 to provide between the units H and I2 (Fig. i) a fairly large effective loop of tape. In this manner several words of perforated matter are stored between the units H and I2 preparatory to being transmitted. This procedure permits or enables the operator of the keyboard device to make alterations or changes before transmission. Upon discovering that changes are necessary in the matter stored in the tape the operator back spaces the tape and reperforates rub-out signals (so-called because these signals have no effect on the receiving apparatus such as telegraph printers or operating units for type composing machines) and then proceeds to perforate corrected matter. By this method of procedure the operator is assured that a line of matter prepared is not transmitted immediately but is stored for a predetermined period of time depending upon the effective length of tape in the loop.

Now, upon completion of the perforated record of the news story the advantage of the adjustability of the tape stop mechanism becomes fur-.

ther apparent, as it is not desired to suppress the end of the story but rather to permit its transmission, and to do so with a non-adjustable tape stop mechanism it is necessary for the operator to space out a suflicient amount of blank tape equivalent in length tothe length of the loop between units M and i2 to ensure the complete transmission of the news story. Ordinarily this would entail the wasting of a considerable amount of line time, as between transmission periods the long loop of tape will consist merely of blank tape. Furthermore, upon resumption of the preparation of perforated tape the first perforation made in the tape by the perforator does not reach the transmitter contacts until the blank tape has been stepped out by the transmitter, thus resulting in a considerable loss of line signalling time.

To obviate all of these detrimental characteristics inherent in the fixed tape stop arrangement the adjustable tape stop mechanism of the present invention is provided, whereby at the completion of a news story the orientation or adjusting lever 5i may be swung upwardly, thus actuating simultaneously tape arm 3| to the position substantiallly as shown in the dotted position in Fig. 2, so as to provide a minimumeflective loop of tape between units ii and I2, thereby efiecting a considerable saving in line signalling time upon the resumption of preparation of perforated tape for the transmission of the next news story, whereupon the tape stop arm 5% will be readjusted to the solid line position (Fig. 2), as pre-' viously noted. In this connection it will be noted that when the lever 5| is initially swung downwardly, the lever 31 remains in its upward position, that of resting upon the tape, and the contacts 39 remain open, then as newly perforated tape is prepared the tape loop becomes longer and the lever 3!, due to gravity, will follow the tape until subsequently arm 34 of lever 3i coacts with contacts 39 which will again be closed to initiate transmission. Under ordinary condiportion therefor.

tions, with the arrangement of the units substantially as shown in Fig. 4, a long loop is approximately three times longer than a short loop, thus, from this it is manifest that by employing the device of the present invention the saving in tape material and in line signalling time is substantial.

Modification Figs. 5 and 6 represent a modified form of construction of the tape stop arm. As indicated, the adjusting lever 5| carrying contacts 39 is of like construction as heretofore described. The tape stop arm Si in this modified form comprises a single piece of wire, or the like, so conformed adjacent to contacts 39 as to provide an abutting The arm Si is secured to a flanged sleeve 62 carried on stud 63 by means of nut 6 and lock nut 65, as shown in Fig. 6. This construction provides a simple and inexpensive device and one which can be conformed to the" propershape manually.

Having now described in detail certain specific apparatus embodying the present invention, it is,

at which said arm will be acted upon by said tape is varied.

2. In a tape controlling system, means from which a tape may be advanced, means for ad-' vancing the tape, mechanism for controlling said advancing means including an independently rotatable arm operated by the tape, means acted upon directly by said arm to control said advancing means, and independently rotatable means on which said last mentioned means is carried for changing the operative relationship between said last mentioned means and said arm.

3. In an automatic control mechanism, a gravity actuated arm responsive to the tension of a tape between a perforator and a transmitter, a set of control contacts operated by said arm .for controlling the operation of the transmitter, and independently rotatable means adapted to cooperate with the gravitational tendency of said arm for changing the obliquity of said arm whereby the point at which said arm will be acted upon .by said tape is varied.

4. In combination, a tape perforator, a transmitter, means associated with said perforator for indicating the justifiability of perforated lines of composition, and means located between said perforator and said transmitter comprising a plurality of independently rotatable elements cooperatively associated to control the advancement of the tape, one of said elements responsive to the tension of the tape, the other of said elements adapted to be disassociated from said ele-- ment to enable the operator to test through the instrumentality of said first recited means a line of composition to determine its justi fiability preparatory to eifecting its transmission.

5. In a tape controlling system, means from which a tape may be advanced, means for advancing the tape, and means for controlling said advancing means comprising a plurality of independently rotatable elements severably coactive to control the advancement of the tape, one of said elements responsive to the tension of the tape, the other of said elements adapted at will to be disassociated from .said element to arrest the advancement of the tape.

6. In an automatic control mechanism, an independently rotatable gravity actuated arm responsive to the tension of a tape, means operated by said am for controlling the operation of an associated device, and independently rotatable orientation means supporting said first recited means and severably coactive with said arm for determining the locus of operation of said arm.

'7. In an automatic control mechanism, a plurality of independently rotatable elements sever ably coactive to control the advancement of a tape, one of said elements responsive to the tension of the tape, and means operated by said one of said elements for controlling" the operation of an associated device, the other of said elements acting as an orientation means for determining 

